PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Bertanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bleeding Gums Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bertanco
vs
Gums Murphy

167 cm
20
256 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Bertanco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bleeding Gums Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bertanco throws a body punch but Murphy moves out of range.

Bertanco gets tackled into the cage by Murphy. Murphy maintains the clinch.
Bertanco could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bertanco is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Murphy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Murphy trying to strike off his back.
Murphy is trying to keep Bertanco in close.
Bertanco won't allow Murphy to sweep him here.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bertanco defends it easily.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bertanco wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
Murphy wants to stand up but Bertanco is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertanco controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bertanco wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.
Bertanco slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Joe Bertanco wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bertanco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Horrible takedown by Murphy or perhaps it was just good defense by Bertanco which made him look bad.
Bertanco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murphy was well out of range. Poor timing from Bertanco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertanco lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Murphy misses with a jab, cross combination.

Bertanco tries to keep at a distance but Murphy has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bertanco has Murphy pressed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Murphy.

It looks like Joe Bertanco has been cut.
Murphy lands an elbow that stopped Bertanco in his tracks for a moment.
Murphy controlling the action here for a moment.
Murphy is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bertanco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Joe Bertanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bleeding Gums Murphy.
Murphy looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murphy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bertanco blocks it with crossed arms.
Bertanco is trying to push Murphy away but Murphy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bertanco throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Bertanco drags the fight down to the ground.
Bertanco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Murphy manages to get himself to full guard.
Bertanco would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bertanco content to stall in guard here.
Bertanco might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Murphy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bertanco is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bertanco decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Murphy, up you get!
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bertanco circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy throws a front kick that sends Bertanco stumbling back into the cage.
Bertanco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murphy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Bertanco keeps it at a distance.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bertanco counters with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Bertanco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Bertanco's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bertanco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Murphy lands with a hook. Bertanco tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bertanco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murphy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bertanco counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bertanco stands up.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bertanco as he jumps to the side.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Murphy tries to clinch up.
Bertanco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murphy paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy swats away the attempt to clinch by Bertanco.
Bertanco stuffs the takedown attempt from Murphy. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
Murphy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bertanco counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
Joe Bertanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bleeding Gums Murphy.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.
Bertanco staying calm.
Murphy tries to buck Bertanco off but Bertanco is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bertanco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bertanco working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bertanco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Bertanco goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Murphy has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bertanco but great work by Murphy.
Joe Bertanco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murphy is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bertanco will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bertanco struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bertanco sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bertanco regains half guard there - taking advantage of Murphy's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Bertanco controlling the position well.
Murphy is keen to just control but Bertanco is a slippery customer.
Murphy throwing shots but Bertanco is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bertanco gets back to full guard.
Murphy wants to pass the guard but Bertanco is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bertanco lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Murphy!
Bertanco scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Murphy?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Bertanco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Bertanco's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Murphy wants to clinch.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bertanco avoids the body shot from Murphy.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Bertanco shoots in looking for a takedown but Murphy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bertanco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Murphy has a takedown stuffed.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bertanco darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bertanco fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bertanco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Murphy sprawls well initially but Bertanco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bertanco is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murphy trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Bertanco manages to pass to mount!
Murphy is desperately trying to improve his position but Bertanco has a good base and remains in mount.

Bertanco is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A slapping leg kick lands for Bertanco.

Bertanco fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Murphy to the ground. Bertanco is now in Murphy's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bertanco trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertanco showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bertanco has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joe Bertanco just wasn't active enough.
Bertanco tries to clinch up.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy shoots and misses

and Bertanco counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Murphy's guard now.
Joe Bertanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bleeding Gums Murphy.
Bertanco content to stall in guard here.
Bertanco distracts Murphy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bertanco sitting in guard here, content to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joe Bertanco.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bertanco but Bertanco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murphy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bertanco but Bertanco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Bertanco shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Bertanco drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bertanco is chipping away with strikes.
Bleeding Gums Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Bertanco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Bertanco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bertanco, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Bertanco!